Ingredients questions

Do zao products contain any fragrance?

We do use some fragrance in our products.

As ZAO products are made of natural and organic ingredients, some raw materials such as oils can sometimes give a quite strong and a little unpleasant smell. We use a very small amount of fragrance just enough to cover up this smell and to enjoy the use of ZAO products even more.

Please note that we use hypoallergenic and 100% natural fragrance. In order to limit allergic reactions, this fragrance does not contain any allergens and is introduced in very low quantities in all ZAO products range.

See also Do ZAO products contain any allergens section

Do zao products contain any allergens?

According to The European Cosmetics Regulation, there are 26 ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction. Their use is limited and they must be included in the ingredients list if they are present in the final formula to a certain extent. The goal is to protect allergy-prone consumers by providing them with sufficient information at the time of purchase. They should know immediately whether the cosmetic product contains any allergens in order to avoid skin allergic reactions.

The hypoallergenic fragrance, which is present in restricted amounts in ZAO products, does not contain any allergens. Overall, there are no allergens in ZAO products.

Do your products contain any essential oils?

We have chosen not to use essential oils in our products due to their high sensitisation risk.

Bamboo & organic silica: why? what are the benefits?

Silica is a nutrient found in connective tissue and throughout the human body. It participates in the synthesis of collagen and elastin and thus contributes to epidermal regeneration. Over time, our silica reserves decrease leading to skin elasticity loss and demineralisation. It is therefore necessary to regularly replenish the epidermis. A silica supplement (oral or dermal) is then necessary to maintain skin elasticity.

There are two types of silica:

Mineral silica, mostly found in crystal form. Human body can hardly assimilate this form of silica. Only 10% of the absorbed mineral silica is assimilated by the body.

Vegetal (or organic) silica found in bamboo is much more easily assimilated. 70% of the absorbed organic silica is assimilated by the human body. Organic silica is a widely used ingredient in Eastern medicine. It boots collagen and elastin production improving skin's strength, elasticity, flexibility, resistance and also helps to maintain the hydration level.

That is why bamboo, a plant extremely rich in organic silica, is present in all ZAO range products (apart from pencils).

Bamboo powder It is a white substance extracted from bamboo stems, extremely rich in organic silica.

You can find Bamboo powder in the ingredients list under the following INCI name: BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA STEM POWDER.

Organic bamboo hydrolate This component is obtained by bamboo leaves distillation and is extremely rich in organic silica.

You can find organic bamboo hydrolate in the ingredients list under the following INCI names: PHYLLOSTACHYS NIGRA EXTRACT or BAMBUSA VULGARIS LEAF EXTRACT.

Organic bamboo macerate Organic bamboo macerate is an oily substance obtained from bamboo's rhizomes. A rhizome is an underground stem, usually growing horizontally, that each year produces roots and upward shoots of a plant. It is a real storage and survival organ.

Like bamboo powder or bamboo leaves hydrolate, organic bamboo macerate is extremely rich in organic silica. The advantage of macerate over powder or hydrolate is its ability to better penetrate the superficial layer of the skin.

You can find organic bamboo macerate in the ingredients list under the following INCI name: BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA STEM POWDER.

Titanium dioxide: why? is it present in nano form?

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a white opacifying pigment that has been used in cosmetics for decades (toothpaste, face cream, body lotion, makeup...). This pigment is also used in other everyday life products: food, home and car paint, etc.

There is a controversy surrounding titanium dioxide in the form of nanoparticles because it can indeed be considered an endocrine disruptor and potentially cause cancer. ZAO products do not contain any nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles raise ethical and public health debates as they can be absorbed through human cells of the same size (10-9 metres). After entering the body, they will then be stocked, and depending on their nature, the body would not be able to eliminate them. Long-term consequences of the absorption are unknown. That is why the new European Cosmos-standard does not allow ingredients containing nanoparticles.

We would like to reassure you that we do not use titanium dioxide in the form of nanoparticles in ZAO products. Titanium dioxide present in ZAO products is in the form of microparticles.

Microparticles are 1000 times larger than nanoparticles. They do not pass through the skin barrier and do not reach our cells (because they are too large). Therefore they do not present any health risk.

Silver powder: why? is it present in nano form? is it dangerous?

In our formulas, silver plays a key role of preservative and skin antiseptic. Silver has been chosen precisely due to its inherent antibacterial qualities. The reason why very few companies (and no makeup companies) use silver as preservative is only due to its high price of more than €10,000 per kilo.

Silver is also used in band aids, burns treatment, prostheses conservation before transplantation in the human body; it has been considered for more than 2,000 years as a water purifier and a disinfectant. That is why in the Middle Ages, nobles and wealthy people used to drink and eat from silver tableware. Silver is an excellent bacteria killer by asphyxiation.

Natural preservatives are as effective as chemical preservatives used in non-organic cosmetic products.

All cosmetic products, organic or non-organic, sold on the European market must pass a test that verifies the preservatives efficacy. This test is called a "challenge test" and consists in introducing bacteria into product samples and then checking that they do not grow.

All ZAO products have successfully passed this efficacy test.

Moreover, silver powder is so effective that it can be used in a much lower quantity than that of traditional chemical preservatives. We therefore also reduce the risks of allergic reactions.

Is silver powder dangerous? Generally speaking, the problem with using metals consists in their particles size: nanoparticles are controversial because they can be absorbed by the human body cells with the same dimensions (10-9 metres). After entering the body, they will then be stocked, and depending on their nature, the body would not be able to eliminate them.

The silver we use is microsilver (trade name), as it is in the form of microparticles. Their size is between 1 and 10 microns, which is about 1,000 to 10,000 times larger than nanoparticles.

Microparticles do not pass through the skin barrier and do not reach our cells (because they are too large). Therefore they do not present any health risk.

Silver is an excellent natural preservative that does not present any toxicity risk to our body as long as we avoid nanoparticles.

Do your products contain any nanoparticles?

Nanoparticles raise ethical and public health debates as they can be absorbed by human cells due to their same size (10-9 metres). These cells would let the nanoparticles penetrate into the body. After entering the body, they will then be stocked, and depending on their nature, the body would not be able to eliminate them. Long-term consequences of such nanoparticles absorption are unknown. That is why according to the new European Cosmos standard the ingredients containing nanoparticles are not allowed. All organic products certified by ECOCERT must meet some fundamental criteria, such as absence of GMOs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, nanoparticles, silicone, PEG, perfumes and synthetic dyes, or ingredients derived from animals (except for those naturally produced by them: milk, honey...).

Ecocert and Cosmos certification conditions ensure organic products respectful of human beings and the environment. Certification bodies have assessed certain nanomaterials in cosmetic products as safe. For example, some nanomaterials, such as mineral derivatives (titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) are accepted in sunscreen products certified organic.

However, ZAO has chosen to go further and to refuse using nanomaterials at all in our formulas. Therefore, we ask our suppliers to prove the absence of nanomaterials in their ingredients.

Heavy metals (Nickel, Lead, Copper, Chromium, Zinc, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic, Barium) are not used in ZAO products, but can be found as unavoidable impurities in mineral pigments.

Pigments bring colour and different shades to a makeup product and therefore are essential.

One of the fundamental principles of organic makeup is to use only natural dyes and ingredients. Natural pigments without doubts offer a narrower range of colours and shades compared to the conventional cosmetic product range, but we continue working on adding new colours to the palette.

We use only natural mineral pigments in ZAO formulas. Our mineral pigments can potentially contain some traces of heavy metals.

Let’s take a look at Nickel in one of our pigments: pink dye CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES):

Nickel is potentially present in this pigment with a concentration ranging from 0 to 50 PPM, or between 0 and 0.005 %. (PPM means parts per million; 1 PPM = 0.0001%)

Given that the amount of pigment in ZAO products never exceeds 20%, there may potentially be up to a maximum of 0.0001% of Nickel in the final product.

This is true for ZAO products but also for all organic and natural makeup products.

ZAO products can potentially contain insignificant traces of heavy metals as they are naturally present in our mineral pigments as impurities.

Do zao products contain any chrome?

It is important to highlight that chrome is not an ingredient added as such in the products.

However, there are two things that you should know about it:

1- Some of our products contain a green pigment, Chromium Oxide Green (CI 77288). Some people may be sensitive or allergic to this pigment. If you have an allergic reaction, please consult your doctor or an allergologist.

This green pigment allows to obtain the shades of green that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. In fact, the palette of natural pigments available for organic certified cosmetics, remains narrow even today.

Since the ingredients present in our products are 100% natural and are certified organic, it is very difficult for us to replace this pigment.

However, we are concerned about the safety of this pigment and therefore decided to rectify the formula of the products containing this pigment. We will soon offer you new shades.

Do zao products contain palm oil?

Palm oil and ingredient complexes derived from palm oil are widely used in cosmetic products.

Palm oil is easily recognisable in a product ingredients list by its INCI name which is “PALM OIL”. It may also be identified by the following name: "ELEASIS GUINEENSIS (PALM) OIL".

Cosmetic industry uses many palm oil derivatives, more difficult to identify, because the word PALM does not appear in the ingredients list.

Zao products may contain palm oil derivatives but it is important to understand that it is difficult for us to exclude them as raw material suppliers do not offer other alternatives. We are forced to find ourselves in this situation.

Nevertheless, we are trying to do our best by selecting only RSPO certified palm oil derivatives.

It is important to highlight that active ingredients contained inorganic plants are much more concentrated than in conventionally grown plants.

Do the products contain any argan oil?

So far only lip care oil contains argan oil.

However, the entire product range contains other skincare ingredients. See the Anti-ageing active ingredients section

Is there any aluminium?

Aluminium salts such as aluminium Chlorohydrate, used in deodorants and antiperspirants, is still a controversial subject. This debate involves aluminium salts that can increase breast cancer risks depending on where it is applied and the amount used.

ZAO products do not contain aluminium.

However, you may find the following INCI names on our ingredients lists:

- MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE It is a completely chemically inert mineral ingredient (clay type) that has nothing to do with an aluminium salt. This raw material presents no health risks (found in eyeliners, Aloe vera mascara, mineral cooked powders and mineral silk)

- CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE This raw material is not an aluminium salt and is considered chemically inert. Its shiny aspect brings shimmer to makeup products.

- CI 77000 (ALUMINUM POWDER) This raw material is used in cosmetic pigments and is added only to our nail polishes, especially for pearly glitter.

Are zao products gluten free?

Gluten is a protein found in a number of foods made of wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats. The consumption of gluten-free food products is becoming a real nutrition trend.

Beyond the "gluten-free" trend, some individuals really suffer from a coeliac autoimmune disease. In order to guarantee that our products are suitable for them, you can find a "crossed wheat spike" logo introduced by Afdiag. This label is controlled by AOECS European standard, with certain requirements such as in-house inspections and annual analysis control plan. For the time being, this label is only applied to food and non-cosmetic products.

These two raw materials do not contain Gluten as we have the supplier's certificates that guarantees its absence.

We can therefore be sure that ZAO products do not contain any gluten.

Do the products contain any talc?

Taking into consideration its bad reputation and the fact that it is a potential endocrine disruptor, we have decided to exclude talc from our products.

Eyeshadow 109: We tried to reformulate this eyeshadow in order to remove talc, but unfortunately without success. So we decided to stop producing this shade 109. It will be replaced by the Peacock Blue 127 shade (available from mid-January 2019)

Eyeshadow 110: We have succeeded in reformulating this eyeshadow without talc (available from March 2019)

Pencil green 604: talc is present in the green pigment in the final product but in a very limited quantity. We are trying to replace this pigment in order to remove talc but it is rather difficult as there are only few other pigments with this particular shade of green.

Do zao products contain maltodextrin? is it gluten-free?

Maltodextrin is not an ingredient added as such to our formulas.

In fact, Maltodextrin that you can find in some of our products comes from another cosmetic ingredient used in our formulas: Cayoma Olive.

ZAO products are suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and acne prone skin.

Do zao foundations contain any sunscreen?

It is important to highlight that sunscreen chemical filters are forbidden in natural and organic certified cosmetics, as most of them are harmful to humans and the environment.

Only mineral sunscreens are allowed in organic certified cosmetics. The use of mineral sunscreens as nanomaterial for sun protection is still a controversial subject. This does not mean that all mineral sunscreens will necessarily be in the form of nanoparticles. They can also be used as microparticles.

Our foundations do not contain any sun protection factor.

However ZAO BB cream does contain a sun protection factor. We have used titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in the form of microparticles to achieve it. This way there is no danger for humans or the environment.

See also Titanium dioxide section See also Nanomaterials section

Do our nail polishes have safe formulas? do they contain any phthalates ?

It is difficult to find organic certified formulas for nail polishes. In fact, organic raw materials available on the market do not perform well enough to formulate organic nail polishes (especially in terms of drying or hold time).

Nevertheless, ZAO decided to offer you nail polishes free of harmful ingredients (including phthalates), and enriched with silica (bamboo sap). You can use them without moderation!

Zao nail polishes formulas do not contain phthalates, especially dibutylphthalate, which is known to be an endocrine disruptor and may cause eyes irritation (tearing, conjunctivitis) and upper respiratory irritations (rhino-pharyngitis, bronchitis); if ingested or inhaled it can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hematuria, dizziness, photophobia (light sensitivity) and nephrotoxicity.

We are constantly working on making our products more respectful of the environment and your health. We have therefore replaced chemical solvents by agro-solvents (from corn, potatoes, manioc or wheat); 76% to 84% of the ingredients used in our formulas are of natural origin.

Besides, ZAO nail polishes are «10 Free»

Finally, like all the products from our range, Zao nail polishes are vegan.

See also the nail polish part «10 FREE»

Nail polishes - what does «10 free» stand for ?

Nail polishes often contain petrochemical raw materials that may cause adverse health effects either by nail penetration or inhalation.

In order to avoid the most harmful raw materials, nail polishes «6 Free», «8 Free» or «10 Free» have been recently introduced on the market. What does it mean?

The number before the word FREE indicates the number of harmful ingredients that are excluded from the formula.

It is important to highlight that there is no official list of the raw materials covered by the label "X Free"

Some cosmetic brands claim that their nail polishes are "10 Free" or "12 Free", but if you look at their ingredients list, you will see that there are ingredients known to be very dangerous or harmful for health, that are rarely found in nail polish formulas. They are not concerned by the "X Free" label but allow to use "12 Free" or "13 Free " labels. These brands misuse this label without making any real effort to adapt their formulas. We should then be careful!

Even if there is no official list, you can find the following ingredients list of the "X Free" label on the internet:

Do zao products contain any squalane or squalene?

Currently Squalene is harshly criticized because the use of squalene of animal origin can be harmful to marine biodiversity. Historically, squalene was extracted from shark liver which resulted in death/exploitation of the species. Unfortunately, some beauty brands carry on using it, either on purpose or not.

However that squalene can also be found in plants (derived from olive oil, cane sugar, amaranth, rice, wheat or sugar beets)

Taking into consideration our respect for the animal world, it was impossible for us to use squalene of animal origin. As you know, our organic certified products must comply with a number of rules, including selection and traceability of the ingredients. Ingredients derived from dead animals are strictly prohibited (except for cochineal*). Furthermore, our products are also certified Vegan & Cruelty Free by PETA. You can therefore be sure that our products do not contain any squalene of animal origin.

What's the difference between squalane and squalene?

Squalene is naturally produced by most plants and animals including humans (it is found especially in human sebum). Its structure is similar to the skin lipids structure. Thanks to its excellent chemical affinity with the skin, it easily penetrates the skin and gives it a silky touch. Squalene has many benefits. It is an excellent emollient that smooths and softens the skin helping to restore the skin lipid barrier. It is also an indirect moisturiser that protects against dehydration and keeps the skin soft and smooth.

Squalane is a stable derivative of squalene, less sensitive to oxidation. Being more stable and having the same properties as squalene, squalane is most commonly used in cosmetics.

Squalane and squalene used in ZAO products are of vegetable origin, mainly derived from olive oil.

* cochineal is an insect that produces the carmine red pigment that is accepted as an exception by COSMOS. (See also Cochineal presence section)

Do zao products contain any cochineal?

Deep purple pigment is derived from cochineal females (known as Dactylopius Coccus). This insect lives on Opuntia cactus variety, and is mainly cultivated in Latin America, Peru being the world's largest producer.

Dactylopius coccus female is used to produce different shades of red, orange, and scarlet. Also called carmin, this dye is named after the carminic acid found in the body and eggs produced by the female.

The insect produces this acid under stress to protect itself from predators.

Insects are killed by immersion in hot water (dried afterwards) or exposure to sunlight, steam or the heat of an oven. Each method produces a different colour.

This dye is widely used in food, confectionery, pharmacy and cosmetics to satisfy the natural products demand. It is true that the term "natural" generally sells, but when we know that it takes 70,000 insects to produce 500 grams of cochineal, as well as the extraction conditions of the pigment, then it is obvious that the use of carmine is not ethical.

ZAO respects the animal world and does not use any carmine in the product. The whole range is labelled Vegan and cruelty free by PETA.

This choice is not without consequences, that's why we don't have any red or fushia lipstick.

In fact, our products are certified organic and therefore do not contain any synthetic pigments, the only way to have a red lipstick would be to use carmine because there is no other stable natural pigment of the red colour. In fact, mineral pigments are of ochre, or orange, there is no solid red.

But we continue laboratory trials to find an alternative solution.

Are zao products safe for pregnant women?

First of all, as ZAO products are certified organic and Vegan, they must comply with the strict certification specifications. This can guarantee that our products are safe.

Apart from these certificates, we are concerned about having safe formulas without any raw materials that could present a health risk.

Therefore ZAO products are completely safe for pregnant women.

As for nail polishes, even if they are not organic, our "10 Free" formulas are much healthier than the standard nail polish formulas. They do not present any particular risk.

However, please consult your doctor if you are pregnant before use.

Products questions

Where does the name Zao come from?

David Reccole, Founder of the brand, answers: "I was influenced by Eastern philosophies and their way of thinking, especially Buddhism. The idea of a product range focused on bamboo was born in Taiwan. Bamboo plays a very important role in Asia and especially in Buddhism. The name of the brand had to reflect this connection. Buddhism has many expressions and a number of branches. Among them, two are the most well-known and are based on nature observation: ZEN and TAO. ZAO is a contraction of these two words as an invitation to meditation, peace of mind and the search for harmony and authenticity following the example of the nature."

Where does the bamboo come from ?

The bamboo we use for our packaging comes from China where it is processed on-site. We have created specific tools to shape raw bamboo as they did not exist before. Our local supplier now uses it exclusively to produce Zao packaging.

We have chosen bamboo for its elegant and modern look, and also because we are convinced that an organic certified makeup range must use natural packaging. All trees store carbon but the exceptional growth rate of bamboo makes it a champion of carbon capture during its life cycle. That is why ZAO products have a minimal carbon footprint. A real organic elegance!

Bamboo is also added to our formulas in a form of powder, hydrolate or macerate. The ingredients section of the FAQ gives you more information about it.

How is the bamboo cut?

The bamboo used for packaging comes from stems that are 4-5 years old and are about 10 cm in diameter. They are cut off at the base as the rhizome immediately creates new stems.

Does the use of bamboo affect the lives of local giant pandas?

Unfortunately, Giant Pandas now live in small protected areas in central China. The map below shows these areas with brown dots:

Our bamboo forest is situated in the region of Wuyishan, Nanping, Fujian, China which is more than 2000km from the protected area where Giant Pandas live.

In addition, the diet of Giant Pandas is based on two main species of bamboo:

In the area where the bamboo is cropped for ZAO, the altitude does not exceed 1000 metres so these species are not present.

The Latin names of our bamboo derivatives are PHYLLOSTACHYS NIGRA for hydrolates, BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA for powder from the STEM and PHYLLOSTACHIS BAMBUSOIDES for rhizome extract.

The bamboo we use is therefore not a part of Giant Pandas' diet.

What is the glue used?

At the moment we are using a standard white wood glue.

Can the packaging materials be recycled once the makeup product is finished? In which bin should they be disposed?

Recycling techniques today in many countries are not efficient enough to sort makeup products as they are too small to be processed by the current equipment. If we put them in waste sorting bins, they won't be recognised and so will not be recycled.

That's why ZAO products are sustainable and refillable.

Thanks to our easy and fun refilling system, you can easily replace your product in an economical and environmentally friendly way by buying only a refill. You keep the bamboo container and use it as you wish. Each bamboo product comes in an elegant pouch to be able to keep it even longer. Apart from reducing costs and packaging they also allow you to try and change colours depending on your mood.

Are refillables made of plastic?

The packaging of certain refills (e.g. pressed powders) are made of recyclable PET plastic materials, which are authorised by the organic certification specifications. However, since the end of 2018, these packages have been gradually replaced by cardboard envelopes.

As for the refills themselves, they are made of various materials, all of them are recyclable, e.g. the silk foundation tubes are made of polypropylene (PP) whereas the lipstick mechanisms require several materials, including aluminium.

Which metal are godets made from?

Eyeshadows, blush, pressed powder and compact foundation are compacted or poured into metal godets. They also can be used as refills and should be magnetic.

Aluminium could not suit because it is not magnetic. So we use tinplate for all Zao refillable pans.

What's the point of the pouches except looking pretty when you buy them?

Each bamboo product comes in an elegant pouch to be able to keep it even longer. For example, they prevent the products from opening in a handbag for touch-ups during the day.

How to clean Zao brushes?

ZAO brushes are made of bamboo (handle) and synthetic nylon (hair). We have chosen to use synthetic hair rather than natural as we are committed to ensuring that no animal is mistreated, injured or killed during makeup brushes production.

In order to effectively clean your brushes, we advise you to wash them in cold water with mild soap to preserve their quality.

What should I do if I have an allergic reaction?

If, despite the safety measures we have taken, you notice an allergic reaction while using one of our Zao products, we are really sorry. We advise you to visit your doctor or dermatologist to diagnose and treat the reaction. Your GP will then be able to confirm if the reaction is caused by one of our products or not and you can then inform the relevant authorities.

Afterwards we invite you to contact us to inform about the diagnosis, the name of the product, the lot number and where you purchased it.

Your finished products are not tested on animals but what about the ingredients?

Ingredients used in cosmetic products no longer need to be tested on animals, according to the European regulation no 1223/2009. However, there are still some regulations that require these tests, such as REACH, a European Union regulation put in place to better protect human health and the environment against any risks caused by chemical substances. In order to reduce the number of animal trials, it nevertheless encourages alternative methods to assess these risks.

ZAO range has been certified "Leaping Bunny" by Cruelty Free International, for several years (See Cruelty Free Certificate). It is the leading organisation in this field, which aims to stop animal experiments all over the world. This certification ensures that none of the ingredients used in the products range have been tested on animals. It goes without saying that finished products are not tested on animals either. You can find more information on this certification by clicking on the following link: https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org

How are products tested if not on animals?

Cosmetic products do not necessarily need to be tested on animals to prove their safety.

Firstly, you need to use well-known safe ingredients, such as certified organic ingredients and the ingredients approved by the organic cosmetic product standards (e.g. Ecocert, Cosmos).

You should also note that each cosmetic product was checked by a toxicological expert before placing on the market. This expert assessed the safety of the product. If according to the results of this assessment the product complies to the current regulations, then it can be placed on the market. Otherwise, the brand cannot sell this product.

All ZAO products were not tested on animals and successfully passed the safety test.

Does Zao sell directly online?

We do not sell directly online. However, if you click on the Points of sale tab on our website www.zaomakeup.com, you will be able to find the closest institute dealer to where you live. ZAO products are also available on other online retailers websites.

Where are Zao products made ?

ZAO products are manufactured in Europe.

We work mainly with three manufacturers, each being an expert in their particular field, depending on the products category. We can distinguish between :

– Pencils manufacturer: Schwan, a German company whose production is located in the Czech Republic; – Nail polish manufacturer: Fiabila, a French company located in Eure-et-Loire region; – Makeup removers manufacturer: Probionat, a French company based in Bouches-du-Rhône region; – All other products in our range are manufactured by Laboratory Phytotechnical, Italian company, based near Milan (Italy). This company has been our privileged partner for over 15 years. In fact, David Reccole, founder and CEO of the brand Zao, was at the start of Laboratoire Phytotechnique then its president from 2006 to 2013.

We trust the quality of certified organic products from these partners.

You can find where place of manufacturing on the product label (e.g. "made in Italy").

Questions relatives aux certifications

Can the retailers display certificates?

Certifications are indicated with logos on each certified ZAO product.

They are also available in the communication materials available in each point of sale of the brand. They can of course display this information.

What is the shelf life of organic products compared to non-organic ones?

The shelf life is calculated according to the following criteria: – Product nature: shower gel, day cream, toothpaste, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipstick, etc.; – Packaging type: opened jar, airtight pump bottle, tube, etc.; – Accelerated age test results before being placed on the market.

As a consequence, an organic cosmetic product can have the same shelf life as a non-organic one. Depending on the packaging used, it can even be longer!

The European regulation n ° 1223/2009 of cosmetic products stipulates that the minimum durability date must be indicated on the packaging. This is the date until which the cosmetic product continues to fulfil its function, subject to being stored under appropriate conditions. However, it is not mandatory to indicate this date on cosmetic products with a minimum durability more than 30 months.

The shelf life for Zao products are:

For emulsions (which contain water), the shelf life is 36 months

For dense textures (without water) such as lipsticks, lip gloss, pencils, the shelf life is 48 months

For all dry products such as powders (loose or compact), the shelf life is 60 months.

Why is there only 10% of organic ingredients in some formulas? Why are your products not 100% organic?

An organic ingredient comes from organic farming. For example, it could be a plant and a plant derivative. But these are not enough to formulate cosmetic products which also require, depending on its nature, water (sometimes up to 90%), minerals such as pigments, clay (sometimes up to 100%) and other ingredients. Water and minerals do not come from organic farming. Therefore, they cannot be certified. So a cosmetic product that contains 80% water, 10% minerals and 10% organic ingredients contains only 10% organic ingredients and yet certified organic at its best.

What matters most is the amount of organic ingredients used compared to the amount of vegetal ingredients. A cosmetic product certified as organic shall contain at least 95% organic ingredients out of the total vegetable ingredients, 10% organic ingredients out of the total ingredients and 95% natural ingredients or of natural origin.

Please see a summary chart following this link: http://www.cosmebio.org/fr/nos-label.php

Zao products organic certified contain as many organic ingredients as possible. Thus, there is often more than 10% of organic ingredients and soon more than 20% thanks to the European organic certification COSMOS.

What is COSMOS?

COSMOS is the European harmonised standard for natural and organic cosmetics.

This standard is a document that states the requirements to obtain organic certification of cosmetic products: ingredients and products composition, nature of packaging, manufacturing, packaging, storage, document management and communication.

In France, we often come across Ecocert standard. You can find Ecocert logo on ZAO certified products.

Ecocert and its 4 other partners (BDIH in Germany, Cosmebio in France, ICEA in Italy and The Soil Association in Great Britain) have put together their values, skills and their vision of organic cosmetics to find a common standard for all of them after many years of work. Starting from January 1, 2017, new certified organic products are only certified according to COSMOS standard.

For more information please visit: http://cosmos-standard.org/cosmos-standard-aisbl/

The transition to the European harmonised standard was anticipated while creating Zao products. Most of them are compatible with Cosmos. However, as the standard requirements are more strict than that of Ecocert, some ingredients are now refused. Raw material suppliers should now disclose much more confidential information than before to be approved by Cosmos so are reluctant to do it. That is why some of our products were reformulated during the past few years.

Are the products as effective as conventional products (hold, colour, etc.)?

Organic cosmetic products are as effective as non-organic ones. Indeed, if we look at the total ingredients used, an organic cosmetic product generally has more active ingredients. Each ingredient has not only a primary function in the product but also other properties that gives an advantage to organic cosmetics compared to non-organic.

Nevertheless, there are still some limits to organic cosmetics :

Difficult to make a waterproof makeup

Difficult to achieve the deep red colour because Zao refuses to use carmine pigment from cochineal extract.

Please note that we are working on these two issues part of our R&D project.

The organic certification of Zao beauty brand ensures the products are GMO-free.

The absence of GMOs is one of the key principles of the organic cosmetics standards (Ecocert or Cosmos). The ingredients used must be derived from renewable sources and transformed by the processes respectful of humans and the environment. Ingredients derived from GMO plants do not comply with this fundamental rule. Each certification body (for example Ecocert) is responsible for checking all the ingredients before the brand can add them to their cosmetic formulas. Thus, the certification guarantees that there is no GMOs in ZAO cosmetic products.

Does the organic certification of Zao cosmetic products ensure the products are nano-free?

Organic certification, according to Ecocert and Cosmo standard, ensures the products respectful of humans and the environment. Certification bodies have assessed certain nanomaterials as safe for cosmetic products’ consumers. For example, some nanomaterials such as mineral screens (titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) are therefore only accepted in organic certified sunscreen products.

However, ZAO has chosen to go further. The brand has decided to refuse using nanomaterials in their formulas. Therefore, we ask our suppliers to prove the absence of nanomaterials in their ingredients.

Does the organic certification of Zao cosmetic products ensure the products are free from heavy metals such as nickel?

As you know, our cosmetic formulas contain mineral ingredients such as pigments, mica, or mineral silica.

As of today, the ingredients suppliers cannot guarantee the pigments without minor traces of heavy metals.

The only ingredients in our formulas that might contain heavy metals are mineral pigments. The international regulations have introduced maximum quantities for heavy metals. For example, the quantity of nickel allowed in a pigment is 50 ppm, i.e. 0.005%. Since the maximum concentration of a pigment in a formula is 20%, this means a maximum of 10ppm (0.001%) of nickel in the final product.

The solution for people sensitive to nickel is to use non-organic makeup products that contain synthetic pigments and dyes. Unfortunately, these synthetic ingredients have other significant side effects on humans and the environment.

We are hoping to be able to use vegetable pigments in the future that are free of heavy metals, which could provide our makeup products with the right colour intensity. This requires some scientific research, which we have started, but the results will not yet be available in the nearest future. To be continued...

Does the organic certification ensure pesticide-free products?

Ingredients used in organic certified products have passed rigorous control tests by the certification bodies before authorisation. Certified organic ingredients come from organic farming where the use of pesticides is strictly prohibited. For example, farmers who grow organic plants, the source of organic cosmetic ingredients, do not, of course, use pesticides. But we all know that wind can unfortunately bring pesticides from nearby non-organic lands (even if a minimum distance between an organic and a non-organic land has to be respected). To be honest, the total absence of pesticides is difficult to guarantee. However, we note that there is still 1000 to 10000 times less pesticide in organic cosmetics.

ZAO organic certification thus guarantees an extremely low level of pesticides, which no other certification is able to ensure today.

Is Zao certified vegan?

Since 2015, the majority of the products in our range have been certified vegan by The Vegan Society based in the United Kingdom.

Since the end of 2018, the entire range of our products have been certified vegan, as we were able to eliminate the last ingredient of animal origin: organic beeswax, thanks to our R&D program.